Translation guide
Describes surfaces, skin, or fabric that have lines or folds, often due to age, pressure, or lack of care. Japanese has distinct words for wrinkles on skin vs. fabric, and for the state of being wrinkled vs. the action of wrinkling.
Describe skin that has fine lines or creases, typically from aging or dehydration.
An onomatopoeic word describing something full of wrinkles, often used for skin, paper, or fabric. Very common and natural.
My grandmother's hands are wrinkled.
Literally 'covered in wrinkles', emphasizes an abundance of wrinkles. Slightly more negative or emphatic than しわしわ.
His face was all wrinkled.
A verb phrase meaning 'wrinkles form'. Used for skin, but also for fabric. Focuses on the process of wrinkling.
As you age, your face gets wrinkled.
Describe clothes, cloth, or paper that have unwanted creases or folds.
Describes something crumpled or wrinkled, often due to being crushed or not ironed. Common for clothes and paper.
My suit got wrinkled.
Also used for fabric and paper, but slightly less common than しわくちゃ for severe wrinkling. Implies many fine wrinkles.
This shirt is wrinkled.
A verb phrase meaning 'to become wrinkled'. Neutral and can be used for any material.
This fabric wrinkles easily.
Describe the temporary wrinkling effect from water or crushing.
Describes something becoming soft and wrinkled from absorbing water, like skin after a long bath or paper left in water.
My fingers got wrinkled from a long bath.
An onomatopoeic word for something crumpled or wrinkled, often from being squeezed or crushed. Used for paper, fabric, or hair.
Describe a surface that is not smooth, with small folds or puckers.
しわしわ describes a state of having many fine wrinkles, often natural or expected (like aged skin). しわくちゃ implies a messy, crumpled state, often from being crushed or not cared for (like unironed clothes).
Grandma's hands are wrinkled (natural aging).
When I took it out of the suitcase, the clothes were all wrinkled (messy).
English 'wrinkled' is often translated as しわしわ, but using しわがある (literally 'has wrinkles') can sound unnatural in casual speech. Use onomatopoeic words for natural expression.
紙がくしゃくしゃになった。
The paper got wrinkled.